- - - - -

Biting his lip, Louis swapped shirts and put the larger one on, grinning softly and looked in the mirror. It was Harry's Ramone's tee, the black one he was infstuated with. With how small Lou was, it was big on him. He liked wearing Harry's clothes -- they have that husky smell that reminds him of his boyfriend.

They haven't had a date in a while, and Louis was just standing in the middle of his room staring at the mirror. Should he ask Harry about it? He probably shouldn't. It sounds greedy.

But, his birthday is in a week and a half so maybe Harry could just come over to his house and they could relax, cuddle, whatever. Liam will be at Sophia's the first part of break (hopefully Louis won't have to celebrate his birthday alone) and then he'll be home the rest.

Louis tugged on a pair of white jeans to match the shirt he was wearing and debated on Uggs or flats. It wasn't cold cold, but the temperature was starting to drop slowly.

Louis sighed, deciding on black flats and fixed his makeup. His hair was starting to get longer...maybe Jay could trim it up before school starts back.

Louis shrugged at his appearance and went downstairs, were Liam was. He looked restless and irritable.

"You okay?" Louis asked auietly as he shifted in his seat.

Liam shrugged, drinking the last bit of his coffee and put the cup in the sink. "I'm just...going through a bunch," he said. "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?--"

"I'm sure," Liam snapped in reply and when he saw the look on Louis' face his features softened and he sighed. "I-I'm sorry, Lou..."

"It's okay," Louis mumbled, swallowing. Liam closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, sitting in the seat next to his twin.

"It's just --," Liam bit his lip. "Soph won't be here all winter break and then she's gonna start a new job...I dunno if we'll have any -- y'know, us time. Alone time, ya get what I mean?"

Louis slowly nodded. "Yeah, I do. Harry an' I haven't had much alone time either since he came back around..."

Liam tsked, laying his cheek on the table. "Plus, rumors are going around about me that I'm a cheater--"

"What?"

"-- because I asked some of Sophia's friends what I should do on our anniversary," Liam finished. "It's coming up."

The crossdresser's lips formed into an 'o' shape and Liam nodded. Louis sighed, apologizing quietly and checked the time. School didn't start until 8:30, he had time to eat.

- - - - -

Harry gripped Louis' wrists in his hands, eyes pleading for an answer.

"Lou, please," he begged. "What did he do?"

"Harry -- ow," Louis winced. "You're hurting me."

Harrys eyes widened and he quickly let go, apologizing and tried soothing his boyfriend by rubbing the areas.

Louis sighed through his nose and adjusted his...Harry's...shirt and swallowed. He really didn't want to talk about it -- but Harry should know why he's been close to passing out when the boy they're talking about comes near him.

"His name's..." Louis swallowed again. "Calum..."

Harry nodded and waited for Louis to continue.

"We were neighbors growing up." Louis sighed. "Li went to public school and I was homeschooled until ninth grade, when Dad died and Papa went back to war. He was homophobic...no one knew I was a boy, actually."

"Really?" Harry asked. Louis nodded.

"My first year of public school was hell," Louis wiped his eye. "Calum told everyone I was a crossdressing boy after he found out and everyone...they laughed at me."

Harry's stomach twisted into knots.

"They started bullying me and before ninth grade ended," his boyfriend shakily choked up. "I-I attempted suicide because of him.."

Harry's eyes widened and Louis nodded. He bit his lip, taking the chance and unbuttoned his jeans.

Ignoring the undergarments Louis was wearing, Harry focused on the scars on Louis' thighs. They were fading, and he saw one that looked fresh.

"I didn't know you...why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked. He wasn't mad or disappointed. He was heart broken. His best friend self harms -- did Calum start it?

"I was afraid you would've thought I was sick or something," Louis shrugged as he fixed his jeans. "Now that volleyball is over and such, I can cover my legs."

"Lou," Harry whispered, "I-I would never think you're sick for self harming." He grasped Louis' hips shyly and pressed a shaky, yet warm kiss to his forehead. "I have scars, too, y'know. Also on my thighs."

Louis shakily exhaled and felt his bottom lip tremble. Harry pulled him into a large hug, rubbing his back and closed his eyes.

"I hate him so much," Louis sniffled as he wrapped his arms around Harry's lower torso, laying his head on his chest. "He fucked everything up after outing me and it hasn't stopped yet."

Harry opened his eyes and continued rubbing his boyfriend's back soothingly, looking around the locker room.

"Lou, babe, baby," Harry cooed softly. "You're gonna make yourself sick...calm down, please?"

Louis swallowed, shrugging. Harry tilted his head up and softly kissed him, thumbing away his tears and wiped the smeared makeup off of his face.

"Screw him," Harry kissed his nose. "Kill him with kindness, maybe? Or just piss him off by using me or something."

Louis nodded, looking in the mirror and sighed.

How could he tell Harry the rest?

- - - - -